How to Get a Part Time Job At Target

Target is nationwide retailer. As such, it employs a small army of workers – many of which are teens. Interested in joining the Target workforce but aren’t sure where to start? The following will outline how to get a part time job at Target.

I’ll outline the application process and try to answer any questions you might have in advance, so you can walk into your interview knowing exactly what to expect – giving you an advantage over the other applicants. There are two basic parts to the process, the application and the interviews.

Included also are some of the expectations of new employees, such as work ethic and attitude. I obtained all this information from a Target Store Representative whom I interviewed.

Application

Applying for a job at Target is done primarily online. You can fill out an application on your home computer via Target’s website or from an in-store kiosk. The application asks for basic information about yourself, including your Social Security number, your permanent address, contact information, and information about your education and prior work experience. The form requires you be prepared to start work within 60 days of submission. Make sure you are able to meet this requirement.

The online form pushes you through a series of job selection groups, asking you to narrow down to your final application choice. You will first decide whether to work in a storefront or a distribution center.

We’ll assume you are looking to be hired in a store, since this is where most teens are employed. After selecting Target locations in your area, pick departments of the store you are interested in working.

After you choose a department, the form will ask you to choose a specific job within that department to apply for (i.e. the Front End Department includes both a Cart Manager job and a Cashier job).

From here, the form will ask you to fill out all the personal information required for application. Note the form suggests setting aside 45 minutes for completion. While it does say that at certain points throughout the process the form will save, I personally would not place that much trust in the internet. Make sure you can do it in one shot.

The forms are refreshed every 90 days so it would be wise to resubmit your form often. However, the applications themselves are rarely discarded, unless it’s during a busy time such as the start of seasonal jobs in the summer.

The Interview

Interviews are an important part of the hiring process everywhere, and Target is no different. After you apply prepare for a series of two interviews. One with the supervisor of the department you’d like to work in and another with the supervisor of the store.

I didn’t get much information regarding the content of the interviews but you can always google ‘standard job interview questions’ and get plenty of ideas. Some questions will likely aim to check the information in your form to see if your answers are consistent. They will probably want to know exactly what days and hours you are available.

Answering these questions is easy – just say what you wrote! Other questions might regard your work ethic, personality, and what you expect from the job. Answer honestly but emphasize your strong points.

Throughout both interviews, managers will gauge your character and your comfort level. Since a Target employee will likely have to deal will sometimes disgruntled customers, good communications skills are important. Practice the interview in advance with a friend or family member and try not to be really nervous.

Expectations and Information

According to the representative I spoke with, the Target Team holds high standards of quality amongst its members. A strong work ethic, good people skills, and a will to do the job right will serve you well working here. Some other good things to keep in mind are that:

Target doesn’t hire minors younger than 16 years old

State regulations dictate how long minors can work per week and other pertinent working information

Target employees under 18 are not legally allowed to operate heavy machinery

Free Job Training

Store attire (red polo shirt and khakis) must be provided by the employee

A starting salary at Target is usually around nine dollars an hour depending on position

Target offers many opportunities to teens new to the workforce. It also makes for a stable and inviting work environment that just about anyone can enjoy.

Target employees can stay on for just one summer, or they can work their way up and make a career of it. Either way, employees of Target are more than just laborers – they’re members of a team.

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About the AuthorJoe

Hi, I'm Joe. I live in Eastern PA with my family and dog. I enjoy building things, whether it be with Legos or two-by-fours. I also love the outdoors, and I hike and bike my local state parks. I run cross country and I play basketball.

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Hi guys, I’m Eva!

Welcome to TeensGotCents, my name is Eva Baker and I founded this site when I was sixteen. I'm a complete money nerd and I love helping teens learn how money works. Also, I watch too much Netflix. Although I still have a lot to learn about personal finance I hope you will use my successes and failures to help reach your own goals whether you want to go to college debt free, get a part time job, work on a fun DIY project that will save you money or just read about ways you can learn to manage your money well as a teen. So glad you're here! Read more about my story here.

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